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Middle East Edition
15th July 2025
 
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THE HOT STORY

More than half of UAE employees check work emails during leave

According to a survey by Robert Walters, over 54% of professionals in the UAE and Middle East check work emails during annual leave, and only 22% feel refreshed upon returning to the workplace. Jason Grundy, managing director of Robert Walters Middle East, said: “Annual leave should provide professionals respite and a chance to reset – it shouldn't cause them to become more stressed than before they went away.” The study highlights that 65% of employees experience anxiety when returning to work, with many resorting to "firefighting tactics" to manage their workload. The phenomenon of "fear of falling behind" (FOFB) is prevalent: 63% of professionals say they find it easier to relax on leave when their teams are also off.
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HYBRID WORKING

Starbucks staff must work in the office four days a week

Starbucks has told its corporate staff they must work in the office for four days a week or take a payment and quit. Workers will be expected to be in the office between Monday and Thursday starting in October, up from a previous requirement that staff come in for three days. Starbucks workers who choose not to comply with the new policy, which applies to the US and Canada, will be offered a one-time payout if they decide to leave. Brian Niccol, chief executive at Starbucks, said the change would help the firm do its "best work" as it faces falling sales and other challenges. "We understand not everyone will agree with this approach," Niccol wrote in a company blog. "We've listened and thought carefully. But as a company built on human connection, and given the scale of the turnaround ahead, we believe this is the right path for Starbucks," he said. As part of the move, the company will require certain managers to relocate to Seattle, where Starbucks is headquartered, or Toronto.
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LEADERSHIP

Two top BCG executives stripped of leadership roles over Gaza project

Boston Consulting Group (BCG) has announced that two senior partners are stepping down from leadership roles over their connection to the firm's involvement with an Israeli-backed aid project in Gaza. The project began as a pro bono effort to help solve food-supply challenges in Gaza. The firm says it turned into an unauthorised project by two other partners against the firm’s instructions. That work included a post-war financial model to voluntarily relocate Palestinians. The firm is now working to contain the reputational fallout from its ties to a project that has been described as an “inhumane and deadly militarised scheme” disguised as a humanitarian aid distribution effort. In the latest leadership shuffle, BCG’s chief risk officer, Adam Farber, and the head of its social-impact practice, Rich Hutchinson, are stepping down from those roles but remain as senior partners. The moves follow the June firing of two partners, Matt Schlueter and Ryan Ordway, who had worked in BCG's public sector defense and security practice.
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TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT

Saudi HR Ministry launches 'Skills Week'

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has launched “Skills Week” to coincide with World Youth Skills Day. The initiative aims to develop a national skills framework and enhance local talent readiness for both domestic and global job markets. Dr. Ahmed Al-Zahrani, Assistant Minister for Skills and Training, said: “This is a key milestone in showcasing Saudi Arabia's progress toward a fully integrated national skills ecosystem.” The week-long campaign will focus on identifying skill needs, aligning training with market demands, and strengthening private sector partnerships to empower youth and improve productivity in the labour market.
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HIRING

Kuwait cracks down on rogue recruitment agencies

Kuwaiti authorities have suspended 25 domestic worker recruitment offices for breaching the country's labour laws as part of a nationwide initiative to regulate the sector. The Domestic Labour Recruitment Regulatory Department at the Public Authority for Manpower (PAM) confirmed the suspensions, which coincide with the reinstatement of 31 previously suspended offices that complied with regulations. PAM's campaign aims to enhance oversight and protect the rights of both employers and domestic workers. In May 2025, PAM received 598 complaints regarding recruitment offices, highlighting ongoing issues within the sector. The total number of registered domestic labour recruitment offices now stands at 488, with new licences issued and others renewed. Officials assert that enforcement efforts will persist to address violations and improve accountability in a sector historically marred by abuse and irregularities.
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LEGAL

Qatar and Indonesia strengthen labour ties

In Jakarta, HE Sheikha Najwa bint Abdulrahman Al-Thani, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Labour, recently engaged in discussions with HE Abdul Kadir Karding, Minister of Migrant Workers Protection, to enhance bilateral cooperation between Qatar and Indonesia. The meetings also included Deputy Minister Dzulfikar Ahmad Tawalla and Dwi Setiawan Susanto, Director General of Promotion and Overseas Employment Opportunity Utilisation. The focus was on developing labour relations and establishing mechanisms for recruiting skilled Indonesian workers to meet Qatar's evolving labour market needs.
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WORKFORCE

QIIB honours long-serving employees

QIIB recently honoured a group of long-serving employees who have dedicated 25 years to the bank during a special ceremony at its headquarters. Chief Executive Dr Abdulbasit Ahmed A al-Shaibei presented certificates of appreciation, highlighting the vital role these employees have played in the bank's journey. “At QIIB, we believe that human capital is the cornerstone of every successful institution,” al-Shaibei said. The honourees, including Mohamed Ghasim Mohamed and Hassan Saleh Amoodi, expressed gratitude for the recognition, which they feel reflects the bank's genuine appreciation for their service. The event underscored QIIB's commitment to fostering a culture of loyalty and professionalism, essential for delivering exceptional services and achieving high customer satisfaction.
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INTERNATIONAL

US federal agencies find that workers may have already quit

The Wall Street Journal reports that federal agencies in the United States have experienced significant workforce reductions through voluntary departures, early retirements, and buyouts, reducing the need for additional layoffs. Agencies including the Veterans Affairs (VA) and Labor Departments say attrition has helped meet staffing goals, with the VA expecting 30,000 employees to leave by fiscal year-end. “There should not be a rush to implement [the] extreme plans that were created by Elon Musk before there has been time to review and evaluate the consequences,” said Everett Kelley, national president of the American Federation of Government Employees, referring to the Tesla and SpaceX leader who led the Department of Government Efficiency, the agency which claims to have saved taxpayers more than $170bn with its aggressive cost-cutting.

Ford agrees to job protection scheme at its Cologne e-car site

Ford has agreed to a job protection scheme at its Cologne electric car plant covering more than 10,000 workers. Company and German employee representatives said voluntary redundancies are planned in response to sluggish adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). "The job cuts are primarily based on voluntary redundancies. The severance payments are generous and significantly better than usual in the automotive industry," works council head Benjamin Gruschka said. Ford has invested $2bn in transforming the Cologne site into an EV production hub.

Jollibean agrees to pay salaries

Singapore-based soya milk chain Jollibean is to pay salaries owed to 22 employees in instalments as the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) investigates the company for offences under the Employment Act. The Employment Claims Tribunals (ECT) has also ordered Jollibean to pay salaries to three employees, and another four cases are still either undergoing mediation or waiting for a decision by ECT.  The Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (TADM) and MOM said that this brings the total number of workers receiving help for unpaid salaries to 29. “We would like to remind employers to pay salaries and CPF (Central Provident Fund) contributions on time to their employees,” TADM and MOM said in the joint statement.
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OTHER

Air India CEO says crash investigation to continue

Air India chief executive Campbell Wilson has said that the investigation into last month's crash of a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner is ongoing and cautioned against drawing premature conclusions following the release of a preliminary report. The report highlighted confusion in the cockpit and indicated that the fuel cutoff switches had flipped, leading to a loss of thrust, but did not identify a specific cause or make recommendations for immediate action.
 
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